Attractions Near By

The following attractions are all to be found within a short journey time of Belan Lodge. Please contact us if you require any further details as we will be only to happy to assist in whatever way possible.

Kildare town (20 mins drive). Is home to a wonderful complex of the Japanese Gardens, St. Fiachra’s Gardens and the National Stud.The Japanese Gardens, which symbolise life, traces the journey of the soul from Oblivion through twenty stages to Eternity. The Gardens offer the visitor both visually appealing views and also provokes thoughts about the true meaning of life.St. Fiachra’s Garden which presents visitors with a similar natural environment to that which inspired the spirituality of the monastic movement in Ireland during the 6th and 7th centuries.The National Stud combines an active role in the development and promotion of Irish bloodstock with its role as one of the country’s major tourist attractions. There is also a Horse Museum. The Museum is a state of the art modern exhibition where the Sport of Kings comes to life.

Kildare town is also home to the Kildare Village Shopping Outlet.This is label heaven and you will find it difficult to resist temptation with 60 brands such as DKNY, Juicy Couture, Anya Hindmarch, Aquascutum and Hugo Boss offering up to 60% off all year around. L’Officina, Dunne & Crescenziâ€™s ultra-modern Italian restaurant offers breakfast, mid-morning snacks, lunch and wonderful wines for you to imbibe while you deliberate over your next purchase. Starbucks is the perfect spot for a restorative coffee and treat.A morning or afternoon spent browsing 60 exclusive brands offering luxury for less in a chic and casual open-air environment is truly time well spent

The Rancho Reilly Pet Farm and Childrens Activity Centre is located Springhill Road Carlow. Rancho Reilly is the ideal place for a family day out, it is set in 5 acres of land and has ample car/bus parking. Soft play area for children up to 3 years. The facilities are both indorr and outdoor. The indoor attractions include a Soft play area including slides for 4-11 years, a Pool table and a Coffee Shop with a log burning stove serving homemade cakes, scones, sandwiches, snacks.Outdoor activities vary from swings, slides, trampolines, zip glider, climbing frame, Minature crazy golf, Sandpit with diggers, bikes to cycle around a custom built track. There is also a Picnic area surrounding a duck pond.The animals at Rancho Reilly include Reindeer, Minature goats, Minature ponies, Lambs/sheep, Calves/cows, Turkeys, Pot bellied pigs, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Hens, Ducks, Geese, Chipmunks, Canaries and many more

County Kildare is home to 3 major racecourses, The Curragh, Punchestown and Naas. The Curragh racecourse is home to all 5 of the Irish Horseracing Classics. The Curragh is also home to many horse training stables. On an early morning visit to the Curragh it is possible to see the trainers and jockeys preparing their horses for the next big race. It is a great chance to see the behind the scenes work of the “Sport of Kings”. Punchestown is the “Irish Cheltenham”. The annual festival attracts the top National Hunt horses in Ireland and the UK.

Belan Lodge’s location makes it an ideal base from which to visit Ireland’s capital city Dublin. It is just one hours drive away. An even handier way to travel to Dublin is by rail. Nearby Athy station (10km) operates a regular service to and from Dublin. Journey time is approximately 50 minutes. When in Dublin,
visitors can avail of organised guided city bus tour or just take in a spot of shopping.

Belan Lodge is located very close to the foothill of the Wicklow Mountains. The area is renowned for it’sscenic beauty and offer a variety of places to visit, including Glendalough, Avoca, Blessington Lakes, Powerscourt House and Gardens.

Emo Court was designed by the architect James Gandon in 1790 for the Earls of Portarlington and is a magnificent example of this neo-classical style. During the middle of this century it was owned by the Jesuits, it was then acquired and extensively restored by Mr. Cholmeley-Harrison in the 1960s. The house is surrounded by beautiful gardens and parkland which were first laid out in the 18th century and contain formal lawns, a lake and woodland walks with many very fine trees and shrubs. The house and gardens were taken into State ownership in 1994.

KILKENNY CASTLE stands dramatically on a strategic height that commands a crossing on the River Nore and dominates the ‘High Town’ of Kilkenny City. Over the eight centuries of its existence, many additions and alterations have been made to the fabric of the building, making Kilkenny Castle today a complex structure of various architectural styles.

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